The Richland Springs Coyotes are back once again! The Coyotes have advanced to the Six-Man Division I State Championship Game for the second consecutive year and will face the same team as last year, the Rule Bobcats. The Coyotes defeated the Trinidad Trojans last Friday night in the state semi-final game by a score of 70-22! Richland Springs has ran the table so far and have 45’ed everyone of their 13 opponents this season. The Coyotes jumped out to a quick 24-0 lead and never looked back. It only took one possession in the 3rd quarter for the Coyotes to end the game. Tyler Ethridge ordered an air assault against the Trojans and that’s exactly what happened. Tyler was a perfect 8 for 8 for 191 yards and five TD’s. He now has a total of 226 for his career! Shelby Smith caught two TD passes from 35 and 39 yards out. Patrick Couch added one from 6 yards out that was a great catch at the back of the end zones. Andrew Fowler had 59 yards rushing, but his lone score was from 16 yards away. Richie Daniels caught a long 58 yard TD pass and was perfect on the night going 8 for 8 on his PAT kicks. Mark Williams and Abraham Ahumada each cashed in on TD runs for the Coyotes. Shelby Smith recovered an onside kick and he also recovered a muffed punt in the end zone for a Coyote score. The Trojans tried to catch the Coyote off guard by kicking an onside kick, but it back fired on them. Tyler Ethridge grabbed the ball after one bounce and dashed right through the Trojan coverage team for a 45 yard TD. The Coyote defense once again shutdown a high octane running game, in the Trojans. The Coyote defense have faced the two best rushing attacks in the state the last two weeks and have performed an outstanding job doing it!! Well, the big stage is set, round two. The Coyotes vs.. the Bobcats. #1 in the nation vs. #2 in the nation. It does not get any better than this. The game will be played at San Angelo Stadium. Coyotes will be the home team, kickoff is set for 7pm or 7:30pm. Details were still being worked out at press time. There is a strong rumor that the DII State Championship Game between Motley County and Woodson will also be at San Angelo Stadium with the kickoff set for 3pm. The Coyotes will face the best team they have seen all year long and the same will go for Rule. These teams are very familiar with each other and both teams mirror each other in many, many ways. The Coyotes got the best of the Bobcats in ’06 by a score of 78-58. The Coyotes will come into the game as a 10 point favorite. The very latest numbers show that the Bobcats are averaging 63.2 ppg on offense, while their defense is allowing an impressive 18.1 ppg. The Coyotes are leading the state on both sides of the ball. The offense is pumping out 70.5 ppg and the defense is only allowing 13.3 ppg. On paper this looks to be a classic, but they must play it out on the field. The only common foe that both teams played this year was the Happy Cowboys. In week zero, the Coyotes defeated Happy by a score of 78-32. Rule faced off with Happy in the Regional round of the playoffs and won by a score of 96-72. I think that the Coyote offense can score almost every time they touch the ball, but can the Coyote defense stop the Bobcats. I really see a replay of last year unfolding. Turnovers and extra points could easily be the difference in this one. The Coyote Booster Club will be hosting a “Community Wide” Pep Rally on Friday, Dec. 14th. We will start serving around 5:30pm and the pep rally will begin right after the conclusion of the Lady Coyote basketball game. We will be serving Steak/Sausage wraps, chips, and a drink for $1. There will be some great entertainment for everyone to enjoy and there will be new t-shirts for sale in the Coyote Game Day trailer. We would like for everyone to come out and show your support for the GREAT job these players and coaches have done so far this year! After Saturday’s game, an unbelievable four years will come to an end for five GREAT, GREAT, GREAT Coyote players. Words can not express the GREAT joy that I and many other Coyote Fans have experienced! You are an unbelievable group of guys and will go down as some of the GREATS that ever played the game of Six-Man football! Thank you for allowing us to ride on your coattails for the past four years!! These five seniors currently have a high school football record of 55-1! I predict that they will finish with a record of 56-1! Remember, the state game will be live on KBAL 106.1 FM and 1410 AM or on the world wide web at ww.kbalradio.com. KBAL will also have an in-stadium broadcast of the game on 97.1 FM. An in-stadium broadcast is where you can bring your Walkman headset with you to the game and listen to the broadcast while you are watching the game.

Well, it’s my final pick of the year. It just doesn’t seem like we're at the end of the season. My Pick: COYOTES - 72, Rule - 40 and you can take it to the bank! GO COYOTES GO!